Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior

[7.0] "A match that was more centered in showing the storytelling, It started after the 4 minutes really, because the first 4 minutes were Hogan and warrior locked and It took a while for the match to get into a proper rhythm, and then the final where Hogan tried to kick out at 3, looks like Hogan was mad he got The Ultimate Warrior Over, and the crowd was happy with Warrior winning which showed a great reaction, but the fact that Hogan wasn't okay with putting someone over that it's not him, shows some bad points of Hogan, but still It was a great match, I'll give it 7/10 [****1/4]"

[6.0] "Yes, this worked for 1990 but that's because nobody cared about match quality back then. Yes the crowd is very into this because both Hogan and Warrior were presented as big deals. The reason this match isn't good isn't really even Hogan's fault since Warrior was basically just a worse version of him. I'll give it points for the crowd reaction but this is a struggle to watch today"

[4.0] "Like a lot of the early Hogan WM main events it's just aged pretty poorly overall. Some very long dragged out holds and neither man is a great wrestler so even though the crowd is very behind the match it still feels like a bit of a drag to get through. Definitely a couple bright spots but overall definitely not great."

[2.0] "Good crowd doesn't save a bad match that goes on for too long. You can have the greatest crowd ever and a big match feel, but that doesn't nullify bad in-ring action. Slow, boring match where Hogan forgets to sell the leg, tons of awkward looking spots and possibly longest rest holds in human history. Warrior delivers the weakest looking clotheslines ever. It makes Hogan v Andre at WM 3 look like a masterpiece."

[5.0] "I mean...it was okay. It wasn't anything mindblowing. They did a few moves. I couldn't stand Warriors gestures, facial expressions, whole gimmick. Hogan had to carry and I swear, Hogan looked so irritated that THIS was the guy he had to put over. It was just okay."

[10.0] "We've got a match between a guy I greatly dislike and think is just a decent wrestler (Hulk Hogan) and a guy I outright hate and think is a terrible wrestler (Ultimate Warrior). This should be wrestling Kryptonite for me but I LOVED this match. The storytelling is great, the crowd is hot, Hogan put his working shoes on, and Warrior manages to not expose himself."

[10.0] "This is the kind of match where big, sweaty guys just beat the heck out of each other for like 20 minutes straight, and for some reason you actually end up enjoying it. Warrior's win was so emotional."

[8.0] "Ultimate Warrior's entrance gives me chill, the crowd is electric and divided and both World Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles are on the line for a unification match. The stakes have never been higher for a Wrestlemania main event. That's for the presentation, as for the match I was really surprised ! I was waiting for something quite mundane but was proven wrong. The match is conceptualized very well with: the test of strength, the running in the ropes to try to destabilize the opponent etc... And all of that is adding up gradually while the crowd gets on his feet progressively towards the all out spectacle of the ending ! We see the warrior re-energized, dodging the leg drop, running around the ring, climbing up the top rope, splashing Hogan. And the fireworks at the end while Warrior is holding up both of the title is legendary. For sure the crowd gives ~70% of the benefit to this match, but i'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the in-ring action as well (and that's rare for a Hogan match)."

[1.0] "As with most Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior matches, this was heavily carried by the crowd. But even with them going crazy this was still boring, and bad in general. They move in slow motion, could hardly run the ropes, and don't sell anything. Hogan acted like he had a leg injury and not even 1 minute later he's moving perfectly fine. 20 minutes and they managed to not be able to do anything that looked good. Lots of slip ups. The only thing in this that I liked was the test of strength in the beginning. I understand the history here, but that doesn't change how bad this match is, and it is very bad."

[5.0] "It's hard for me to rate these matches, which are entirely based on how hot the crowd are, very high. It goes on a bit and here I am, decades later, well aware of how it ends and I can't get super excited for it. I find myself bored for parts of it. Admittedly the big moments are still big but they're not enough to raise this above middle ground for me. Something tells me that a new/young fan seeing this for the first time cold wouldn't be roused into rating it too highly."

"Not a big fan of either guy in this match and this is such a late 80's WWE match. It's just whatever."

[7.0] "The crowd is hot as hell for this, and both men overdeliver considering their limitations and the era. It's a fun match and an iconic moment, but it also doesn't hold up extremely well. An audience in 2025 would never buy that Hogan could score a three-count off Warrior merely missing a dive. You'd also think they'd let Warrior kick out of the leg drop (just as Hogan kicked out of Warrior's finisher) to get another big moment. All that said, it's like watching an old movie from the '50s or before: you get a lot more enjoyment if you're familiar with the era, understand its limitations, and immerse yourself in the story. If you can do those things, this is a very good (possibly even great) match and one of the biggest clashes in WrestleMania history."

[3.0] "Atmosphere and vibes is what really drives this match. One of the most anticipated matched in wrestling history culminating at the largest stage there is. Really a monumental moment for the sport. Then...they had to wrestle. I tend to rate bad matches in a way where the longer they go the lower the rating. If you're going to be bad, be short. This was bad wrestling and it was incredibly long. I give the crowd a 10 and the work a 1."

[4.0] "It's a bad match on its own, only really saved by the hot as hell crowd, who're really invested in Hogan and Warrior's ultimate battle. Even then, it's just the same old stuff that both of them give, bar the hilarious out of context clip you probably see floating around online. And even with Warrior pinning Hogan clean, becoming the first man to do so in quite some time, Hogan finds a way to make himself look strong and undermine the Warrior's victory, BROTHER! **"

[10.0] "Just like Andre Vs Hogan its very iconic and for this and these two wrestlers its nicely wrestled and they play to the crowd well. I dont quite know if Warrior was ready for this win but the crowd was super into so its hard not to be into this match."

[7.0] ""Mega powers" of Mania 5 was prematurely pull-triggered WM's nickname. A lot of play with the crowd, but that was the only way to handle a certain level and both guys delivered it."

[7.0] "This main event feels very similar to Andre vs Hogan, where it fully lives off of the unbelievable energy of the crowd. The difference? This match had much better in-ring action! Its not as great as Savage vs Hogan (8/10), but better than Andre vs Hogan (6/10). With that in mind, my rating drops right between both of those matches on a 7/10. Amazing main event with a great story and memorable finish!"

[4.0] "What a disappointment. I remembered it as a pretty good match, but watching it again after all these years, I realize it's still pretty disappointing. We run into the ropes, we go into a submission, release, then we run into the ropes, submission and release, and we start again... Halfway through the match, both wrestlers are already out of breath, even though we spent half the time in submission holds. Luckily, the crowd is lively and divided between the two wrestlers, but unfortunately, that doesn't save the match for me. (2*)"

[4.0] "The perfect exemple of a match running on aura only. Almost nothing happened during that whole match, but the crowd was extatic for the slightest drop of sweat falling on the mat. Not a good match by any mean on 21st century viewer eyes, but the 80's crowd loved it so they must have done some things right."

[4.0] "Of course context and chronological standing makes this a marquee matchup but there is just no angle for a fan in 2025 to enjoy this I'm sorry, the in ring action is pretty basic and even for that basic action two notorious no-sellers don't really strike awe. Hogan is actually surprisingly competent but Warrior seems incredibly disinterested and sloppy, I basically laughed out loud whenever they made those god awful clotheslines."

[7.0] "With the exception of his much later bout against The Rock at WrestleMania 18, this is probably the best match of Hogan's entire career. That it featured The Ultimate Warrior as his dance partner is even more shocking given how limited he was. Nevertheless, both guys made it work by giving the crowd exactly what they wanted to see. This was about who was the better technical wrestler, or about settling a grudge in a hate-fuelled, bloody brawl; rather, it was two real life comic book superheroes duking it out to see who was the strongest and most resilient. That's why much of what they did--while it would usually come off as dull in any other match setting--actually caused the crowd to lose their collective minds. Even something as simple as a test of strength was equivalent to a head drop in terms of the reaction it elicited from the tens of thousands of fans packed into the SkyDome. The opening few minutes and the last few minutes were undoubtedly the most exciting parts of this match as they were the parts were both guys played into what the fans had come to see, helping to create a truly special atmosphere and genuine tension as to who was ultimately going to prevail. I actually would have gone even higher in my rating had the match been about ten or so minutes shorter. The stuff in the middle that saw Hogan and Warrior each take turns to work over the other was rather unremarkable and definitely felt less interesting the the rest of the match. It would have been best if those control segments were instead excised from the bout to help it flow better. I also wasn't fond of either guy scoring a phantom pin on the other, as I think it undermined the point of the match a tad, especially because Hogan captured the first of the phantom pins (because of course he did). It wasn't as completely clean and definitive as it should have been, but the finish was still great. Warrior dodging Hogan's signature leg drop to hit the big splash for the 1-2-3 was so simple yet so perfect, as was the post match with Hogan handing over the title (and the figurative torch) to Warrior. Overall, the best WrestleMania main event up to this point. A perfect example of how a match can be entertaining without either guy having to do anything fancy by instead relying upon pure hype and a simple story. Basically, it is everything people say Hogan vs. Andre at WM3 is but actually still enjoyable to watch. ***1/2"

[7.0] "A match that was more centered in showing the storytelling, It started after the 4 minutes really, because the first 4 minutes were Hogan and warrior locked and It took a while for the match to get into a proper rhythm, and then the final where Hogan tried to kick out at 3, looks like Hogan was mad he got The Ultimate Warrior Over, and the crowd was happy with Warrior winning which showed a great reaction, but the fact that Hogan wasn't okay with putting someone over that it's not him, shows some bad points of Hogan, but still It was a great match, I'll give it 7/10 [****1/4]"

[4.0] "Hogan knew what his job well and mostly did it well. I think Warrior is mostly awful in this, but he was at least good at hyping himself up with the no sell stuff and the pumping his arms up and down. I think Warrior is best with someone who can pretty much carry him while also letting him get his stuff in. What bothered me in this match was that Hogan decided to kickout very quick after he got pinned and lost."

[7.0] "So im not a big fan of either man, hogan i find anoying not only cos i dont much like his act a but also cos i know can do much more, as for warrior i just dont get as hyped by his promo or entrnce as other so im just stuck with a bad wrestler. With that being said this match is both of there finest hours as they went out there and put up a very fun main event that manged to with out doing alot keep its epic vibe up for its full run time, both man have had better matches but this is there best proformnce. I do have some issues like not being a fan of the ref bump spots, and also not likeing hogan kicking out at 3.01 but still this match is just a very fun watch"

[2.0] "This match is so boring it's not even funny, but it has a hot crowd. I don't know. I feel like it's unfair to rate it so low, because the crowd is into it and the star power is prevalent, but IT'S SO BORING! I couldn't even suspend my disbelief and get myself sucked into the moment(s), they're both such awful and unbelievable workers that I felt my intelligence were being insulted. This match is saved from a dreadful rating by the finish and hot crowd. Nothing else."

[5.0] "A fantastic finish, attached to a terrible match. Is there any move in wrestling more boring than a bear hug? Is there any spot in wrestling more boring than a test of strength? It barely even functions as a pose-off, as the Warrior has like three poses and two of them are "arms up" and "arms down". It also wins a point by being the only time I've ever seen either one of these competitors attempt a small package, and it was a pretty nice small package too. Legitimately didn't know either of them could do that. I know I'm an internet poisoned modern weirdo who can't put itself into this time period, but maybe this just sucks? Starrcade 1990 had the Steiners, Muta, the Horsemen, Ron Simmons, Rey Mysterio's dad. Now to be fair, the main event of that show was worse than this one but even then it was still Flair vs Sting kinda. WWF shit WWF bad WWF stinkypoopoocaacaa. Did you know Rey Mysterio's dad was sometimes known as Rayman? Me neither."

[4.0] "The beginning is nice as they both show equal feats of strength, which clearly tells the audience that these two men are both superheroes. Everything after is far too sloppy and misguided. Half of the time, it's difficult to tell if they're trying to do a move, or if they just ran into each other on accident. Neither man will sell for the other (Warrior because he is an awful wrestler, Hogan because his ego is too high) so it makes both of them look underpowered. I know people talk about this match telling an incredible story, but I don't see it. Hogan blows his knee out, but he rolls back in the ring and wrestles fine for the rest of the match. Hogan also kills any of Warrior's momentum in the match by barely selling his offense. When they do the spot on the ropes where Warrior clotheslines him repeatedly, Hogan takes five seconds to get off the ground each time, so Warrior has to keep adjusting his position. I didn't go in to this thinking it was going to be some epic workrate classic, but I'm shocked at how poor the in ring storytelling, which is supposed to be the major draw here, played out. It's no wonder Warrior couldn't hold the top spot for very long."

[8.0] "Much more of a sports entertainment match compared to a work rate match. This match was actually super enjoyable due to the character work and theatrics. Crowd ended up getting super involved. Both of them getting the pin while the ref is down protects both men. Overall fun match."

[8.0] "This is insanely good considering we've got an average worker and a terrible worker and 20 minutes to not fuck things up. The booking was just absolute perfection and there's not a whole lot to say other than it completely sucked me in and they achieved way more than anyone expected. Kind of like what we saw with Hogan and Rock in 2002, with it being built around charisma and crowd energy and it just hit the jackpot. Of course from a work standpoint it wasn't Flair-Steamboat levels but it was brilliant in its own way and encapsulates WWF's vision of pro wrestling."

[10.0] "An absolute classic from two of the most iconic wrestlers to ever step in the ring. My favorite match from both guys when they were at the top of their careers. Great build up and execution. The energy that these two brought to the arena that night was just amazing."

[7.0] "This match was absolutely fantastic. The structure of it was built to make the planned new face of the WWF in Warrior look equal to the incumbent on the way down in Hogan, and it was done to perfection. It started with the opening exchange, with Warrior overpowering Hogan in the Greco-Roman knuckle lock initially before Hogan powered his way back to plus position. They followed up by re-doing the Royal Rumble spot, essentially finishing what they had started back in January, and having Warrior win that exchange by clotheslining Hogan over the top rope to the floor. Hogan sold his knee big, saying it was out. I assumed he watched his Rhea Ripley tapes from SummerSlam this year. He came back quickly after though, with Dr. Monsoon explaining that his kneecap may have slipped out before sliding back into place. Hogan got on the offensive, wearing down this man who matched his strength. The match slows down here for Warriors sake, as his gas tank is clearly on E, but its still working to the story. Warrior fought his way up before we got our first of several teases of a fuck finish after they dropped each other with a double clothesline. A young Max Friedman took note. I liked the inclusion of those teases, as wrestling was full of double title matches that found a way out of switching either title. Warrior Warriord up and dropped Hogan with a bunch of clotheslines before he fell at Warriors feet. Warrior locked on a bearhug to drain Hogans energy and put them back on equal footing. Referee Hebner dropped the arm once, twice, but Hogan held up on the third and fought out before sidestepping a shoulder block that took Hebner out. Both men got visual pins, then got slow counts from the groggy referee before we got to the final stretch. Hogan sent Warrior to the floor with a back elbow before following him to the outside in what was clearly a double countout tease before getting back into the ring. Warrior got Hogan up for the Gorilla Press and hit the back splash, but Hogan kicked out and hulked up. Hogan sent Warrior across the ring and hit the big boot, but Warrior moved out of the way of the leg drop and hit a second splash to get the win and the title. Hogan kicked out at 3.1 and was up on his feet almost immediately, but honestly, I dont think what Hogan did in the post-match was egregious. He handed Warrior the WWF Title and raised his hand, with Warrior raising his hand in return. This was basically the post-match of every WrestleMania Weekend main event since 2018. This match had the epic feeling in a way that so many matches nowadays try and fail to achieve. It felt like a Clash of the Titans-type battle between two absolute juggernauts, with a clear objective that felt like it had been accomplished by the end of the match. Hogan passed the torch to Warrior, and he felt like the man by the end of the night. It obviously didnt work out that way, but Ill give them credit for their work on this night. I would put this second of all the Hogan main events so far behind the King Kong Bundy cage match, as they couldve shaved some time off from the middle portion. This was still a great main event and the clear match of the night. ***3/4"

[9.0] "This was a clash of titans back in the day. Even I was getting tired of Hulk Hogan winning all the time by this point and was rooting for the Warrior. Up until this point, this was the Ultimate Warrior's best match, at least until WrestleMania 7. This is the same crowd that booed The Rock years later against Hogan, but they were behind both guys here. {at Patterson pulled off a miracle by laying out the match between these two."

[4.0] "Just by seeing the card you can tell there is only one match worth seeing. Having only 2 title matches at wrestlemania is stupid even for 1990. Even the main event was boring. I guess the story was okay, but that was pretty much it. Telling a story in the ring because there is no way these guys are even at the average level in the ring"

[9.0] "Probably my favorite Hulk Hogan match of the Golden Era of WWF/E. The storytelling during the match was excellent and the action is at a relatively fast pace. Lots of twists and turns towards the end taking the crowd for a ride."

[8.0] "This was actually a really good match, but of a spectacle then a match, but I digress. The two went back and fourth for over twenty minutes. The two used big moves and both men looked amazing. Ultimate Warrior won but Hogan kicked out at 3 so he didnt look weak"

[7.0] "I really want to give this a 10 but I feel like it would just be wrong to. This match is not great. Its serviceable and for the Warrior its one of his best, but its an amazing spectacle. This had the big fight feel every Mania main event needs to have, and these two knew it. My favorite thing about the match is the celebration at the end. I dont know what it is but the image of Warrior holding up both belts in front of a firework show is really captivating. Also, I know Hogan gets clowned on and rightfully so for the overly dramatic ending with him handing Warrior the belt, but I actually kind of liked it. It did feel like the passing of a torch."

"This is my favorite pro wrestling match of all time. I was a young kid at the time but this cemented my life long love of wrestling. To see how far the industry has come since this is astounding, yet this is still my favorite era and always will be. Thank you WWF."

[5.0] "These two going 20 minutes? These guys must have been fuelled by some heavy cocaine and steroids. Watching all the old manias in order you can slowly see Hogans ego grow, from helping Savage win the title at 4, to winning it back at 5 and then kicking out at 3.01 seconds to make himself look strong and making himself centre stage when it should be about warrior"

[8.0] "This match is really good, especially considering what everyone thought this was going to be. Neither Hogan or the Warrior are known for their work rate, so to see them produce a match that's not only watchable, but objectively good was quite a surprise. Unfortunately, it will never happen again."

[6.0] "I hate the Warrior, but he really brought it here, a real fun match. Could've done withought the 5 minute bear hug"

[6.0] "As larger than life superheros like gimmicks as a little kid watching this macth would be like watching great magic at a circus for the history of the wwf and wrestlemania this is a memorable macth and the crowd their loved it, for in ring action especially ultimate warriors performance it was horrible but colourful at the same time"

[6.0] "Whilst Hogan, and especially Warrior, don't do much for me, the spectacle of this match and the energy of the crowd is enough to make it fun. Nice to finally see Hogan lose at mania too."

[9.0] "This match is great both men have great chemistry and the crowd was so hot during this match I think warrior winning was the right decision this was a technical masterpiece but this match is so important and fun to watch. ****1/2"

[10.0] "What a WrestleMania main event and what a moment. WrestleMania was created for larger than life matches and moments like this. The match was built on who is the stronger being and they went back and forth all match. The finish was dynamic and hogan crowning warrior at the end will live forever"

[7.0] "The story telling is really good with Warrior being the next guy as Hogan takes time off, but the match as most Warrior matches do sucked"

[3.0] "I get it is two of the biggest superstars of the moment on the main event of wrestlemenia, but it does not move me the way i wish it would. The wrestling quality limits the feeling this match gives, because Warrior just doesnt give the performance of the wrestler he is trying to be looked as. Crowd was on fire, they reacted to everything and made the match that much enjoyable, but even then i could not get invested, i get the nostalgia, i get how important it was, and im happy Hogan accepted to lose."

[5.0] "From a storytelling perspective, this is a fine match, but from purely a wrestling standpoint, this is an abomination of a match to be honest. Literally nothing happens for the first 2/3 of the match, and it is yet another piece of evidence that the Ultimate Warrior was a terrible wrestler. Im giving this 5 purely because of the era it is from and the historic element of it."

[4.0] "Look, I get it, wrestling has changed a lot since this times. This was a match up between the two biggest personalities in the business and looking at the crowd reactions and investment, whether I like it or not, they really had something magical going on. This is my rating and review however, and I really dislike everything this match had to offer in the ring up until the very end, which I thought was quite enjoyable and bumped up my rating a couple of points. If you like this match, all the power to you, but it's really not for me."

[7.0] "01/04/90 Wrestlemania VI. As a Warrior fan and a Hulkamania hater, this was a great moment in my childhood when I heard Warrior had won. Looking back with more mature eyes. It was really a shit show. OK it is iconic, two of the biggest faces on the planet and they grew into the match, it took them a while but they found their footing, especially with neither wrestlers being great technicians. The first few spots were tough to watch, the worst looking test of strength, the bouncy rope game with a lame clothesline to finish and later on Warrior nearly notching the guerrilla press slam. In fairness though Warrior sold brilliantly, the finish was pretty decent and the crowd was electric, I reckon 60-40 Hogan. A kind 6.5*"

[5.0] "This was really another match that I had to really debate between scores. I wasn't sure if I should give this match 5 points or 6 points. What I really love about this match is that you genuinely don't know who is going to win the first time you watch it. They both look strong, and the crowd is so behind them both. The ending few minutes were amazing. You can't have a crowd eating out of your hands more than these guys had. Considering these two are both...limited in the ring, to put it mildly, you'd expect this match to be a train wreck like their future WCW match would turn out to be. But they put as good a match together as they possibly could have. What drags it down are the crazy degree of rest holds. An early test of strength that lasts for several minutes. A chin lock that lasts for several minutes. A bear hug that lasts for several minutes. They spent probably a third of the run time of this match in rest holds. And that's why I went with 5 points. I just can't justify going with a 6, knowing how much time this match was given, and how much of it essentially went unused. When this match is good, it's one of the hottest matches of this era. When this match is bad, it truly is a slog to sit through. Give these guys 15 minutes instead of 22, and this match might get 7 points. But there's just too much that makes me check out."